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SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa now produces excellent white and red wines. The first vines were planted in Cape Town in the middle of the 17th century by Dutch settlers, and a sweet wine, the mythical "Vin de Constance" became, in the following century, one of the most famous wines in the world, consumed in Europe and the Americas.
South Africa, a wide variety of terroirs
Today, South Africa is the 9th largest wine producing country in the world and the first on the African continent with 102,000 hectares of vines. The Republic of South Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent around 35° south latitude. The hot and dry climate becomes more temperate around the coastal regions where most of the vineyards are located. It is rare to find vineyards located more than 100 km from the sea. Rainfall is very uneven between regions and between seasons within the same region, making it essential to irrigate many sites. For years, South African winegrowers have deliberately sought to plant vines in cooler places than in the past. To do this, they climb the mountainsides in established regions such as Stellenbosh, Paarl or Franschoek for example or settle further south where the climate is cooled by oceanic influences. New wine regions such as Elim or Walker's Bay have recently emerged.
Pinotage and grape varieties of South African red wines
While white varieties still slightly dominate production, red grape varieties have grown rapidly over the past two decades with Cabernet Sauvignon at the top of the planted area, followed by Syrah. Cabernet Sauvignon is planted mainly in the Paarl and Stellenbosch and Franschhoek regions and produces complex wines with aromas of black pepper, blackcurrant, blackberry and plum. South Africa's other great red grape, Syrah, offers elegant wines in the cooler regions of Paarl and Stellenbosch and richer wines in Robertson and Swartland. There is also Merlot and Pinotage, which are quite widely planted.This last typically South African grape variety, invented in this country in 1925, is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir. Instead, it offers aromas of raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, spices and tobacco.
Chenin and white wine varieties from South Africa
The grape variety that still dominates white wines is Chenin Blanc with an aromatic palette of white fruit and floral notes, and Colombard, often blended with Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, but, and especially for export, South Africa relies on Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The rapid development of South African wines
Since the end of apartheid, the speed with which these producers have set about creating, changing production structures and approaches to winemaking, and finding a specific path for their wines is truly impressive. The number of wineries in South Africa has grown from 150 10 years ago to around 550 today, with Diversified wine styles through the exploration of new regions and the choices of winemakers.
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